Major Events In Indian Science In 2013

 

As we aspire to continue our journey into another year it would be interesting to recapitulate various milestones achieved to evaluate our progress and make better plans for future. Indian Science has received widest acclaim in the year 2013 firstly for successfully unleashing The Mars Orbiter (MOM) or Mangalyaan and second for honouring Prof. C.N.R. Rao an internationally reputed chemist with Bharat Ratna.

 Other important events that earmarked the Indian science calendar are:

January: The inauguration of the 100^th Science Indian Science Conference at Kolkata on Jan 3^rd by Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh who has launched the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) project with an aim to position India among the top five global scientific powers by 2020. STI would also ensure that the benefits of science, technology and innovation be utilised for the development of nation. The policy would work at optimisation of the gross expenditure in research and development by calling for active engagement of the industries and encouraging the private sectors in innovation related activities by offering incentives for the same.

An announcement made by the head of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at Bangalore on Jan 5th  regarding  India’s plan of building World’s largest telescope at the foot hills of Himalayas in Merak Village of Ladakh region to analyse the basic processes occurring place on the surface of the Sun. The 2-meter class National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) a state of art facility with a provision of night time observation is to be built by the IIA to initiate advanced microscopic studies on the solar atmosphere. The other participating institutes are the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Aryabhatta Institute of Observational Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). The cost of the project is estimated to be 300 crores is supposed to be commenced by the end of the year.

Scientists have developed 16 disaster management drugs that can be used in case of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) accidents. These drugs are developed by the Defence and Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS). These have passed efficacy tests and are getting ready for release into the market at a much cheaper price.

Renowned space scientist, Prof. U. R. Rao has been inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame by the Society of Satellite Professionals International. He is the first Indian to receive the rare honour for leading all Indian Space Programmes from 1984-1994. With this he would join Arthur C Clark, Van Allen, Harold Rosen, Peter Jackson and 49 other space scientists. Beginning with the first satellite Aryabhatta over 20 satellites have been launched under his guidance. He was instrumental in accelerating rocket development in India. Currently he is chairman of governing council of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmadabad.

February: A single blood test costing Rs 2400 capable of screening for 13 cancers at the earliest stages of disease has been developed by SRL diagnostics. The test detects the presence of protein fragments Fibrinogen Degradation Proteins (FDP) which are released when cancer cells disintegrate to facilitate the growth of cancer.

India has successfully launched seven satellites carried by the PSLV C-20 whose lift off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre from Sriharikota was delayed by five minutes. The delay was done to avert collision with resident space objects in space. One of the satellites on board included Indo-French Satellite SARAL, world’s first smart phone operated nano satellite, a space telescope satellite, and four foreign satellites. This was India’s 101th space mission.

March: Six alleged irregularities in clinical trials have been identified. Further to this, strict orders have been issued by the health ministry making the registration of the trials compulsory on the ICMR website. New guidelines for organising inspection of trial sites and sponsor or clinical research organisation have been formulated. Drug and Cosmetic Rules 1945 has been amended.

The first Supersonic cruise missile BRAHMOS has been successfully test fired from a submerged platform in the Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam. The missile took off vertically from a submerged platform to an altitude of 290km with pin-point accuracy which was confirmed by the telemetry and tracking stations. They are capable of maritime strike and land attack.

April: SC dismissed patent protection for the anti-cancer drug Glivac (Imatinib Mesylate) developed by Novartis. Chennai Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has decided to revoke the patent for not complying to the Article 3(d) of Indian Patent Act.

 Scientists at Asian Institute of Gastroenterology along with Japanese researchers have developed a prototype of an advanced multi bending Peroral Direct Cholangioscope (PDCS) device to detect and cure Gastro-intestinal cancers. The device is equipped with a video camera that can bend easily and can detect cancers of bile duct, liver and pancreas in early stages.

May: A scientific study revealed that the glaciers of Mount Everest have shrunk by 13% over the past 50 years due to global warming. The situation is aggravated by the fact that there has been less snowfall in this region since 1990. While the Karakoram mountain ranges on China-India-Pakistan border are holding steady and are believed to be growing.

 June: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has installed Early Tsunami Warning System (ETWS) at Rangchang in Andaman and Nicobar Islands that can predict the tsunami immediately after an earthquake. The new technology can predict Tsunami within 3 minutes of the initial tremors are felt and sends warning signals too. Subsequently alert warnings can be sent to the 10 risk zones in consultation with the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) at Hyderabad.

Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) permitted certain companies and research institutes for conducting field trials of five genetically modified crops which include-cotton, maize, castor, wheat and rice. These GM crops would offer resistance to insects, salinity, and tolerance to water logging and excess use of nitrogen fertilisers.

July: India’s advanced weather satellite INSAT-3D launched from the space port of Kourou in French Guiana by Ariane space’s Ariane 5 rocket. It is positioned in the Geosynchronous Transfer orbit (GTO) 36,000km from earth. The satellite’s instruments will be operative from second week of August.

August: ISRO aborted launch of the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-D5 designed to carry the GSAT-14 communication satellite into the orbit, due to fuel leakage in the upper cryogenic tanks at the eleventh hour on Aug 19th.

Bharat Biotech a leading Vaccine company launched a new vaccine for Typhoid Typhbar-TCV which can offer protection to children less than 2years and to adults even.

 India’s first exclusive satellite for military operations GSAT-7 launched with the paid up launch service of  European Space Consortium's Ariane Space’s Ariane 5 ECA rocket from Kourou Space Port, French Guiana on 30^th August.

September: The Chairman of the Department of Atomic stated at the 57^th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at Vienna that India’s nuclear plants as well as several fuel cycle facilities record notch top performance for the year 2012. The average annual availability of Indian nuclear plant remained at 90% and registered low unit energy cost.

All the 11 transponders of the multiband communication satellite GSAT-7 have been performing well.

October: The much awaited Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan has been delayed by a week and the new launch date is November 5^th (mangalwar) 14:36 IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. India is using its most trusted launch vehicle, PSLV-C25 an XL variant of the launcher. The decision to delay the launch of the Mars Orbiter is due to the bad weather conditions in the South Pacific Ocean. SCI Nalanda ship carrying the satellite tracking system failed to reach Fiji by Oct 21^st.

November: With the efficacious blast off of the Mars Orbiter (Mangalyaan) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota at 14:38pm on November 5^th, India has successfully launched its interplanetary mission campaign and gained entry into the elite club of nations -USA, Russia and Europe, which have made explorations to the red planet.

Professor Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao (C.N.R Rao) an internationally renowned chemist has been conferred the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat Ratna. He is the third scientist to join the pantheon club of Indian scientists to have received this prestigious award. This elite group of scientists include Nobel Laureate and Physicist Sir. C.V.Raman who was awarded Bharat Ratna in the year 1954, and the renowned aeronautical engineer and former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 1997.

December: MOM (Mars Orbiter for Mars) has become the farthest object sent by India in space, when it surpassed the Moon’s orbit. The Mar’s Orbiter left the earth’s gravitational field and successfully positioned itself into the Mars Transfer Trajectory, thus finishing the Earth’s Orbiting phase.

India successfully test fired its missile Prithvi, a surface to surface missile from the Integrated Test Range from Chandipur. It was India’s first indigenously built ballistic missile with a range of 350 km. It has 483 sec flight duration and can carry a war load of 500kg to a peak altitude of 43.5 km and is more lethal than similar calibre missiles in the world.

 The first indigenous light combat aircraft, Tejas has received its operational clearance after 30 years of conception. Tejas will be replacing the old fleet of MIG’s from the Indian Air Force. The cost of construction of each aircraft is around Rs 200 crores and is expected to come down once the mass production of the vehicles begins. It is lightest military jet in its class capable of reaching a speed of 1350 kmph and is comparable to Mirage 2000, Gripen fighter jets and F16s.

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